SAN DIEGO -- A Ramona man is accused of intentionally starting a fire last weekend in an Imperial County hunting area.

According to the state Department of Fish and Game, 26-year-old Jacob Thogmartin was arrested on suspicion of igniting a brush fire on January 28 in an area where many sportsmen hunt waterfowl.

Fish and Game officials said the fire, which burned approximately 650 acres, began in the Wister Wildlife area, just east of the Salton Sea.

"They [game wardens] were walking down the levee looking for hunters and looking for compliance and Mr. Thogmartin came out of the bush without a weapon of any kind and any real reason to be there," said Andrew Hughan of the Department of Fish and Game.

Hughan said about a half-dozen game wardens happened to be there as the wildfire exploded.

"A fire erupted behind him for no real reason; no lightning nor anything else," added Hughan.

Thogmartin was held by wardens until Imperial County sheriff's deputies found enough evidence to arrest him.

Wardens had to evacuate 340 hunters in the area due to the blaze.

"It might be overstating it to say they saved their lives but certainly they were in jeopardy," Hughan said.

However, it was what happened the previous day that also made the wardens suspicious of Thogmartin. On January 27, wardens ticketed Thogmartin for trespassing and collecting firewood.

"Apparently, he was out there driving around in his truck, looking for whatever he was looking for and was given a citation for that," said Hughan.

On Wednesday, 10News visited a home in Ramona where Thogmartin is believed to live, but no one answered the door.

10News learned Thogmartin posted bail Tuesday night.

The Imperial County District Attorney's Office told 10News Thogmartin's arraignment had not yet been scheduled.

He is facing felony arson charges in connection with the brush fire.